pre-birthday reflections

I remember buying a card once that said something to the effect of: “Sometimes I just want to cry, not because I am sad but because there is so much beauty in the world and so little time to appreciate it.”

I read recently about a woman from my local community, Jodi Fisher, who bravely staves off her tears and lives what she knows are her last precious days with gusto. I am truly inspired by her courage.

Here I’ve been, getting caught up in ending one leap year cycle and beginning another, trying to define what the past four years have meant to me and imagining what may come with the next four years. All the while I’ve been unconscious of the fact that trying to sum up my life often gets in the way of actually living it.

So here’s to birthday wishes, bucket lists, just being, just breathing this day.

I am Amber’s verge of tears. At times, the blessings of life flood through me and I am so grateful for every minute of it.